Debate contribution: Programme for Government Commitments: Executive Delivery
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Programme for Government Commitments: Executive Delivery
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5669908
Read the official Assembly record
Text
At the moment, it is exceptionally difficult. Without a Budget, of course, it becomes more challenging to ensure that the full Budget envelope is rolled out for any of those particular issues, but we are doing what we can.
I really welcome the fact that, across Departments, we have been able to find a pragmatic way through. For example, the Executive have agreed to facilitate the Health Minister to continue this year with £80 million of health waiting list initiatives outside the context of the normal Budget round. That is not an isolated example; we have been able to do that across a range of areas. For example, the Education Minister has asked for the same approach in relation to affordable childcare, and the Executive are actively looking at that.
It is not ideal for us to be in this situation, but it is right for us to try our very best to put forward the most robust case possible to the UK Government that we do not need resources that we are not going to use effectively but we need a Budget that is fit for purpose. We need a Budget that will support health, education and justice. We need a Budget to enable us to roll out those public services, and the DUP and the First and deputy First Minister's office will continue to push for that.
229 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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